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UK5- NMS NEL Flow Programme (phase 1 interim contract)

Department for Science, Innovation & Technology

This public procurement record has 2 releases in its history.

Award

21 Jul 2026 at 11:38

UK6 - Contract Award Notice
Award

20 Jul 2026 at 14:22

UK5 - Transparency Notice
Summary of the contracting process

The Department for Science, Innovation & Technology procured laboratory services from TÜV SÜD National Engineering Laboratory (NEL) for the NMS NEL Flow Programme interim contract. The work maintains and disseminates the UK's primary measurement standards for flow, enabling accurate measurement of oil, water and gas. It supports utility and industrial metering, alternative-fuel development, carbon capture and storage, and wider National Measurement System services. The programme also supports the UK's digital economy, environmental monitoring, clean-energy transition and science and research activity. Delivery covers the United Kingdom. The requirement is an interim arrangement intended to maintain continuity of National Measurement System service delivery while later phase contracts are finalised.

The procurement is complete and the contract was awarded to TÜV SÜD National Engineering Laboratory on 21 July 2026. It was a direct award using a single-supplier route, justified by exclusivity requirements, intellectual property or exclusive rights, and the absence of competition for technical reasons. One lot was completed. The award value is £1,300,000 excluding VAT and £1,560,000 including VAT. The awarded contract period runs from 30 July 2026 to 31 July 2026, with signature scheduled for 30 July 2026. The award is active. The requirement was treated as above threshold, and the published procurement rationale states that the services could be provided only by this particular economic operator because of technical market constraints.

This procurement demonstrates demand for specialist national flow metrology rather than general laboratory testing. Suppliers considering comparable work for this buyer would need demonstrable capability in maintaining and disseminating primary measurement standards, and in delivering highly accurate flow measurements for oil, water and gas. Relevant technical depth includes support for utility metering, industrial measurement, alternative fuels, carbon capture and storage, environmental monitoring and energy-efficiency applications. The direct award rationale indicates that exclusivity, intellectual property or exclusive rights, and technical constraints were decisive, so a credible competitor would need distinctive technical infrastructure, expertise and resources that can provide continuity for National Measurement System services. The requirement is suited to an established specialist metrology organisation with recognised national-level capability.

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Notice Information

Notice Title

UK5- NMS NEL Flow Programme (phase 1 interim contract)

Notice Description

This is an interim contract to ensure continuity of NMS service delivery while Phase 2 contracts are finalised. Please refer to the original phase 1 notices: https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/062778-2026 Please refer to the phase 2 contract notices here: https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/022587-2026 The NMS labs support the digital economy by developing measurement techniques for emerging technologies such as quantum computing, artificial intelligence, and the Internet of Things (IoT), helping the UK stay at the forefront of technological innovation. Metrology labs contribute to environmental sustainability by providing accurate measurements for monitoring air and water quality, greenhouse gas emissions, and energy efficiency. This supports the UK's efforts to transition to clean energy sources and mitigate climate change. The TUV SUD National Engineering Laboratory (NEL) enables accurate and precise measurements of flow, such as of oil, water, and gas, through the maintenance and dissemination of the UK's primary measurement standards. This supports domestic and industrial utility metering, the roll-out of alternative fuels, and the development of carbon capture and storage, among other things. DSIT's National Measurement System underpins all science, technology and R&D activities in the UK. The extensive scientific and technical infrastructure, expertise, and resources necessary to provide these services mean that there is an absence of competition from other providers. The works, supplies or services can be provided only by a particular economic operator for the following reason: absence of competition for technical reasons. NMS contracts are therefore awarded directly.

Procurement Information

Single supplier - intellectual property or exclusive rights Single supplier - technical reasons Direct award is justified through absence of competition due to exclusivity requirements and technical market constraints.

Notice Details

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-06ceef
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/068633-2026
Current Stage
Award
All Stages
Award

Procurement Classification

Notice Type
UK6 - Contract Award Notice
Procurement Type
Standard
Procurement Category
Services
Procurement Method
Direct
Procurement Method Details
Direct award
Tender Suitability
Not specified
Awardee Scale
Large

Common Procurement Vocabulary (CPV)

CPV Divisions

71 - Architectural, construction, engineering and inspection services

CPV Codes

71900000 - Laboratory services

Notice Value(s)

Tender Value
Not specified
Lots Value
Not specified
Awards Value
£1,300,000 £1M-£10M
Contracts Value
Not specified

Notice Dates

Publication Date
21 Jul 20262 months ago
Submission Deadline
Not specified
Future Notice Date
Not specified
Award Date
21 Jul 20262 months ago
Contract Period
30 Jul 2026 - 31 Jul 2026 30 days
Recurrence
Not specified

Notice Status

Tender Status
Complete
Lots Status
Complete
Awards Status
Active
Contracts Status
Not Specified

Buyer & Supplier

Contracting Authority (Buyer)

Main Buyer
Department for Science, Innovation & Technology
Contact Name
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Contact Email
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Contact Phone
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →

Buyer Location

Locality
LONDON
Postcode
SW1A 2EG
Postcode Area
South West London
Country
England
Major Region (ITL 1)
TLI London
Basic Region (ITL 2)
TLI3 Inner London - West
Small Region (ITL 3)
TLI35 Westminster and City of London
Delivery Location
Not specified
Local Authority
Westminster
Electoral Ward
St James's
Westminster Constituency
Cities of London and Westminster

Supplier Information

Number of Suppliers
1
Supplier Name

TUV SUD Ltd

Further Information

Notice Documents

Open Contracting Data Standard (OCDS)

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The Open Contracting Data Standard (OCDS) is a framework designed to increase transparency and access to public procurement data in the public sector. It is widely used by governments and organisations worldwide to report on procurement processes and contracts.

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